Strachan resigns as Middlesbrough boss

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan ripped up his contract and left the Championship club on Monday after they dropped to their lowest league position for 20 years.

Strachan leaves Boro

The Boro boss cancelled his scheduled pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday's trip to Nottingham Forest due to gastro-enteritis, but only a few hours later it was revealed he had resigned his post.

Boro chairman Steve Gibson said: "It's a sad day. Gordon worked very hard for the football club. He would be the first to admit that things haven't turned out as we would have hoped.

"We had a long discussion and during that debate, he offered his resignation and I accepted it.

"The integrity he has shown, he made life very easy for me. Not only did he offer his resignation, but in doing so, he tore up his contract. He sought no compensation, he walked away from the club with empty hands, and it's a measure of the man.''

Strachan has collected just 11 points from as many games, a return which leaves Boro 16 points adrift of leaders QPR and seven shy of the play-offs. They have only picked up one point in the last four games.

That piled the pressure on Strachan, who had radically overhauled the squad in the year since taking over from Gareth Southgate, but without tangible progress.

Former West Brom and Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has already been linked with the position, but no official announcement has been made.

Boror coach Steve Agnew - the former Sunderland and Barnsley midfielder - has been put in temporary charge of the team, and will lead them from the dug-out against Forest on Tuesday.